The Non Ferrous Alliance takes an active part in the MCCG and makes representations to CBI for the sector.

The NFA supported the group to respond to the UK ETS consultation and a copy of the detailed response is provided to Members in the Bulletin.

Key points from the consultation include:

• The EIUG and MCCG called on BEIS to postpone introducing a Net Zero consistent cap until Government has developed its policies to support industrial decarbonisation further and put in place policies to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage due to direct and indirect emission costs.
• Furthermore, BEIS should publish an impact assessment setting out its appraisal of the impact of the proposals and giving stakeholders time to engage with the evidence in to inform policies before any decisions are taken.
• The EIUG and MCCG find it concerning that the Government propose to reduce the number of free allowances for industry without a proper assessment of the risk of carbon leakage for these industries.
• The EIUG and MCCG do not agree with the proposed range for the net zero consistent cap. The proposal increases the risk of carbon leakage, lacks bottom-up analysis and is not aligned with other Government policies and strategies, in particular the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy.

The NFA will keep members informed of progress on this.

Climate Change Related Claims are being targeted at a Wider Range of Businesses

Climate-related litigation is increasingly targeting businesses across sectors other than those that have been traditionally associated with greenhouse gas emissions, such as energy and heavy-duty industry, according to a new report.

In addition, increasingly diverse strategies are being employed by claimants, such as seeking compensation from the company, or seeking to hold directors responsible for failing to manage climate risks, looks set to continue.

The practical impact is that many organisations and companies that previously thought they were at a low risk of being a defendant could become the target of a claim.

Intergovernmental Science Policy Panel

As members will know, the NFA has been advocating a science based approach to chemicals management and has projected this message to central government.

One advocate of this approach has been the Royal Society of Chemistry, who the NFA has met at several debates and discussions on UK Reach and the future of the UK Chemicals Strategy.

Now over 190 nations have agreed to negotiate a legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution on land and sea, and one that will focus on the entire value chain to create a circular plastics economy. Agreement was also reached on creating an intergovernmental science policy panel to advise on chemical pollution and waste

Camilla Alexander-White, chemicals policy lead at the Royal Society of Chemistry, welcomes the move to bring chemicals and waste together under one umbrella.

‘Up until this point, chemicals policy in terms of Reach and industrial production of chemicals, has been separate from waste policy. If you want to achieve a circular economy, then the two worlds have to come together.’

Critically, ‘science will now be at the heart of these discussions when there was almost nothing before. That’s a landmark change and so should be the stimulus for the targets [on chemicals management] to be met. In the past 10 years the world’s targets on pollution have failed to be met because industry have not been at the table and science has not been at the table.’

However, the science panel will have to navigate data sharing. ‘When you’ve got safety data, chemical data that is a corporate asset, how you then share that data with the wider world – especially on priority areas of global concern – will be a key issue,’ she adds. Industry scientists should be involved, ‘but make sure they’re not bringing the business agendas and the business plans to the table, but bringing their facts, their knowledge and manage any conflicts of interest transparently’.

According to the resolution, the main function of the body will include horizon-scanning, undertaking assessments and ensuring communication between scientists and policymakers.

The NFA has will discuss the sector position and issues with the RSC.